Crime

EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—With spring break fast approaching, many West Michigan families are fine-tuning their travel plans—and so are thieves.

Most West Michigan schools will be out of session April 3-10, so families can take a vacation. East Grand Rapids Public Safety Director Mark Herald says this is the time homeowners need to step up safety measures. Herald shares seven ways to make your home less attractive to thieves:

KENTWOOD, Mich.—As the busiest shopping day of the year approaches, police are offering 10 ways to protect yourself and your vehicle from thieves.

Help Eliminate Auto Thefts (H.E.A.T.) works with Michigan law enforcement agencies to track down suspected car thieves and those suspected of auto theft-related insurance fraud. Shoppers are encouraged to follow these tips:

ALPINE TOWNSHIP, Mich.— Scams are everywhere; that’s why the Kent County Sheriff’s Department is holding a two-part workshop to help residents protect themselves.

The first session is noon on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the Alpine Township Center, located at 5255 Alpine Ave. NW. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Dawn at (616) 784-9622.

The seminar is sponsored by Edward Jones and will address a variety of schemes, including credit card fraud, identity theft, phishing and computer hackers. The program is free and includes a light lunch. The second session will take place Aug. 19.

KENT COUNTY, Mich.—Four additional officers from the Kent County Sheriff’s Department will be patrolling the hallways and grounds of West Michigan schools next fall.

The Kent County Board of Commissioners last week approved contracts in which the Kent County Sheriff Department will provide a school resource officer to Byron Center Public Schools, Kent City Community Schools and Kenowa Hills Public Schools. Lowell Area Schools is working with a community partner to fund a school resource officer and hopes to commit to a contract in the coming weeks.

The SROs will improve school safety by investigating school related incidences and taking a proactive approach to deter violence and crime on campus.

KENT COUNTY, Mich.—The sheriff department is warning residents about a scam that’s made its way into Kent County.

On June 16, a resident contacted the sheriff department to report a suspicious phone call. The suspect masked their phone number so it appeared the phone call was coming from the Kent County Sheriff Department. The predator told the victim the Kent County Sheriff Department had a warrant out for their arrest and they needed to pay hundreds of dollars to take care of the warrant. The scammer also used an actual sheriff department employee’s name. Fortunately, the victim thought the call was suspicious and contacted deputies.

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich.—Kent County Sheriff’s deputies do not believe thefts that took place at York Creek Apartments this past weekend are connected to a string of crimes within the county.

The suspects targeted at least one vehicle between 6 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Sunday. Deputies say they propped one vehicle on cinder blocks before stealing its rim and tire. One resident says several vehicles were vandalized, but only one of the thefts was reported to deputies.

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)--Four people have been arrested in connection with a series of thefts ofseveral high-priced items in West Michigan.

Kent County deputies and other investigators searched several homes and one business in Wyoming, Cadillac, Grand Rapids Township, Hastings, and the Grand Rapids area and recovered the stolen property. Property recovered includes a Triumph motorcycle, a Chevrolet Impala, a Yamaha golf cart, a 350 small block GM engine, compound bows, tools, golf clubs, antique military paraphernalia and a 20-gauge shotgun. Also recovered was a Borg Warner T10 4-Speed Transmission, which was described by the victim as being one of only twelve for sale in the country in its condition.

One of the four suspects is a juvenile. The others are described as being 17, 21, and 22 years old. More charges are expected in Newaygo and Montcalm counties.